Accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a vehicle such that a camera views through the vehicle windshield

Abstract

An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle includes an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The accessory includes a camera and circuitry. With the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a vehicle windshield, (i) the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication, and (ii) the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, with the light absorbing layer otherwise hiding the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle, the accessory mounting system comprising:
 an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle; 
 wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to adhesively attach the receiving structure to a windshield of an equipped vehicle; 
 wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to receive and support the accessory; 
 wherein the accessory comprises a camera and circuitry; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera at least one of (i) views through the windshield via an aperture in the receiving structure and (ii) contacts the windshield via an aperture in the receiving structure and views through the windshield; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the light absorbing layer of the windshield otherwise hides the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory is removable from the receiving structure; and 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, a cover is removable to facilitate service. 
 
     
     
       2. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving structure is formed by a metal fabrication. 
     
     
       3. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a metallic housing. 
     
     
       4. The accessory mounting system of  claim 3 , wherein an electrical connector is accommodated at or on the metallic housing. 
     
     
       5. The accessory mounting system of  claim 4 , wherein the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle comprises a light transmitting aperture. 
     
     
       6. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises an interior rearview mirror assembly and wherein the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle is configured to be received by a mirror mount of the interior rearview mirror assembly. 
     
     
       7. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the receiving structure is adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle by an adhesive selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl butyral adhesive, an epoxy adhesive, a urethane adhesive and a silicone adhesive. 
     
     
       8. The accessory mounting system of  claim 7 , wherein the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle comprises at least one of (i) a frit and (ii) a black frit. 
     
     
       9. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory comprises a body having a shape and wherein the body includes a cross-section dimension and a body length, and wherein the ratio of the cross-section dimension to the body length is greater than 1. 
     
     
       10. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the cover hides the camera and circuitry of the accessory from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
       11. The accessory mounting system of  claim 10 , wherein the cover snap-attaches. 
     
     
       12. The accessory mounting system of  claim 11 , wherein the cover comprises a polymeric cover. 
     
     
       13. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a metallic housing and wherein the receiving structure is fabricated of metal. 
     
     
       14. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a metallic housing and wherein the receiving structure is fabricated of a polymer material. 
     
     
       15. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a housing and wherein the camera views via an opening in the housing wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the opening in the housing juxtaposes with the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle. 
     
     
       16. The accessory mounting system of  claim 1 , wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera contacts the windshield and optically couples therewith via an aperture in the receiving structure and views through the windshield. 
     
     
       17. An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle, the accessory mounting system comprising:
 an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle; 
 wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to adhesively attach the receiving structure to a windshield of an equipped vehicle; 
 wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to receive and support the accessory; 
 wherein the accessory comprises a camera and circuitry; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views through the windshield via an aperture in the receiving structure; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the light absorbing layer of the windshield otherwise hides the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory is removable from the receiving structure; and 
 wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a housing and wherein the camera views via an opening in the housing wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the opening in the housing juxtaposes with the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle. 
 
     
     
       18. The accessory mounting system of  claim 17 , wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, a cover is removable to facilitate service, and wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the cover hides the camera and circuitry of the accessory from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle and wherein the cover snap-attaches and wherein the cover comprises a polymeric cover. 
     
     
       19. An accessory mounting system for mounting an accessory at a windshield of a vehicle, the accessory mounting system comprising:
 an accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from a receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle; 
 wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to adhesively attach the receiving structure to a windshield of an equipped vehicle; 
 wherein the receiving structure comprises a portion configured to receive and support the accessory; 
 wherein the accessory comprises a camera and circuitry; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views through the windshield via an aperture in the receiving structure; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory receives an input from the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication and delivers an output to the equipped vehicle via a CAN bus communication; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the camera views forwardly through the windshield via a light transmitting portion of a light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle, and wherein the light absorbing layer of the windshield otherwise hides the accessory from view through the windshield from external the equipped vehicle; 
 wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the accessory is removable from the receiving structure; 
 wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a housing and wherein the camera views via an opening in the housing wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the opening in the housing juxtaposes with the light transmitting portion of the light absorbing layer of the windshield of the equipped vehicle; and 
 wherein the accessory adapted for mounting at and demounting from the receiving structure comprises a metallic housing. 
 
     
     
       20. The accessory mounting system of  claim 19 , wherein an electrical connector is accommodated at or on the metallic housing and wherein the receiving structure is adhesively attached to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle by an adhesive selected from the group consisting of a polyvinyl butyral adhesive, an epoxy adhesive, a urethane adhesive and a silicone adhesive. 
     
     
       21. The accessory mounting system of  claim 20 , wherein the receiving structure is fabricated of metal. 
     
     
       22. The accessory mounting system of  claim 20 , wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, a cover is removable to facilitate service, and wherein, with the accessory received and supported by the receiving structure and with the receiving structure adhesively attached by an adhesive to an interior surface of a windshield of an equipped vehicle, the cover hides the camera and circuitry of the accessory from view by a driver of the equipped vehicle when normally operating the equipped vehicle, and wherein the cover snap-attaches and wherein the cover comprises a polymeric cover.